Refrigerator-flue construction



' 1 630,065 May 1927' H. c. LEONARD ET AL REFRIGERATGR FLUE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 17. 1925 I 15 34 [55 ll 'L-----,----

m mm

Patented May I 24, 19 27.

UNITED srAT Es PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY c. LEONARD AND WALTER H. WHITTIER, on GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, AS- sIGNoRs, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To nLnoTRIo REF IGERATION CO PORATION, on DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A oRro ATIoN or MICHIGAN.

REFRIGER TQRFLU'E coNsTRnoTIoN.

- Application filed December 17, 1923. Serial No. 681,070.

This invention relates to a refrigerator flue construction to be used between an upper ice chamber in a refrigerator and a lower provision compartment located directly beneath the ice chamber, the flue be ing for purposes of circulation of air in the refrigerator. The present construction is directed toward the production of a very simple yet effective flue for this purpose and which can be very economically produced and installed in refrigerators, particularly those of a more or less cheap and inexpensive construction.

An understanding of the invention and the aims and accomplishments thereof will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which, 7

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section through one side of a refrigerator, being at the slde wherein the ice chamher and lower provision compartment are located, and I Fig. 2 is a plan of the flue construction used, parts being broken away and shown in section for better disclosure.

Like. reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

The refrigerator may be of well known and conventional construction, the inner cas ing thereof having vertical sides 1, but one of which is shown inthe drawing, with a vertical partition 2 dividing the casing into two vertical compartments. A' horizontal partition 3 divides one of said compartments into two chambers, an upper cham \ber 4 in which ice is received, and a lower provision chamber 5, while the other vertical compartment 6 is used for the holding of provisions also. The various compartments or chambers are lined with sheet and then turned back over the upper side of the partition 3, making a horizontal flange 11, as shown. I I I The lining to the ice chamber 4 has vertical sides 12, a top and a back, and a bottom 13 which lies over the partition 3. At its central portion, an opening is made similar to the opening through the partition, and the metal adjacent and around such opening is pressed upwardly and inwardly at an angle to the horizontal, as shown at 14, then curved inwardly and downwardly, as at 15, terminating in a downwardly extending flange 16 which is somewhat smaller in outline than the opening through the partition 3 and located symmetrically thereto.

To the flange 16 a sleeve 17 of sheet metal is secured. This sleeve 17 is shaped to fit around the flange 16 and may be secured thereto by solder, the soldering connection being at a number of points and sufficient only to secure the parts together, there being no necessity that a continuous soldering connection to fill all of the joint shall be made. The sleeve extends downwardly inside of the lining to the opening through the partition made by the parts 11 and at its lower end is turned back upon itself, as shown at 18 to make a smooth lower edge to the sleeve and reinforce and strengthen it; The lower edge of the sleeve comes but slightly below the lower side of the top 9 of the lower provision chamber lining. It is to be understood that other flue openings are made between the provision chambers 5 and 6 and between the ice chamber 4 and the provision chamber 6 for the effecting of a lowing the edges of the openin complete circulation of air inside of the refrigerator. These may be made in any desired manner, as shown in our Patent No. 970,672,-granted Sept. 20, 1910, or in any other desired manner. The invention in the present construction is directed to the flue construction between. the ice chamber and the provision chamber below it. The construction is simple and inexpensive to produce being very rapidly manufactured and assembled as is essential with large quantity production, for whichthis flue construction is designed. The invention is defined in the appended claims and comprehends all forms of structure coming within their scope.

\Ve claim 1. In a refrigerator, a horizontal partition having an opening therethrough, a sleeve extending through the opening and above the partition, a lining over the upper side of the partition having an opening therethrough, the metal surrounding the opening being first raised above the plane of the lining and thence bent downwardly within said sleeve, said sleeve being secured to said down turned portion of the lining, and a lining below the partition having an opening through which said sleeve extends.

2. In a refrigerator, a horizontal partition having an opening therethrough, a lining 011 the under side of the partition having a like opening therethrough, said lining 20 at said openings being turned upwardly to pass through the opening in the partition and then bent horizontally to lie against the upper side of the partition, a sheet metal sleeve passing through the partition, and a lining located over the upper side. of the partition and also having a like opening therethrough and formed with a downwardly extending flange at and around the opening in said lining,'said flange extending into and being secured to the upper end portion of the sleeve.

In testimony whereof we lfllX our signatures.

HARRY o. LEONARD. lVALTER H. VVHITTIER. 

